Cycling enthusiasts due for some special treats

Routes to be open for Bike to Work Week.

Routes to be open for Bike to Work Week.

May 12, 2007|JOSEPH DITS Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- If ever you thought of riding your bicycle to work or school, this is the week to do it. Reason No. 1: Freebies come Thursday like coffee, live music and a bike tour from the gridiron at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown -- all for national Bike to Work Week. Reason No. 2: You can try out the city's new bike lanes that, by Thursday, will cover all of Mishawaka Avenue in the city limits, up to Logan Street on the east. Not to forget other bike routes (see the box with this story). City officials believe the lanes will calm traffic. On Friday as crews painted the white lines of the bike lane between parking and traffic lanes, you could watch how cars stayed within their newly defined zone. Then, as they rolled onto a not-yet-marked section, some veered a couple feet into the open space where bike lanes would appear. Mayor Stephen Luecke says he set a five-year goal of 50 miles of painted bike lanes or "share the road" routes to meet the second priority set by the public in the City Plan: to provide alternative forms of transportation. Irish musician joHn Kennedy would second that. In fact, he gladly lined up the local musicians who will perform Thursday. At age 18, Kennedy took a train to California and rode a bike back to South Bend. Today he still takes long, solitary rides but feels precluded from commuting on bike out of his house near Ironwood Drive and Cleveland Road, thanks to busy roads and sidewalks along high curbs. "If I want to go to the mall, I have to drive a car," he says. "This is not the way a community should design itself." Luecke, whose son doesn't own a car and commutes entirely with a bike in Madison, Wis., feels the bike lanes could "contribute to a renaissance of ... community life." City crews will temporarily post "no parking" on sections of Mishawaka only as they paint the lanes next week. No parking will be lost in the end. Here's a look at Thursday's activities at the Football Hall of Fame's gridiron sponsored by the Paint the Town ... with Bike Lanes Coalition: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: There will be free coffee and snacks, a bike mechanic for minor repairs and inspections (at least in the morning), coupons for discounts at local restaurants and businesses, and brochures on bike safety and local cycling groups. 7:30 a.m.: Mayor Luecke will talk about bike commuting and the city's new routes. 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: So far, eight musicians or groups are lined up to perform steadily. The music ranges from Irish folk to folk rock to old-style country music. 5:30 p.m.: Cyclists are welcome to join a casual 7.8-mile ride starting from the Hall of Fame and touring the newly painted bike lanes along Mishawaka Avenue. Staff writer Joseph Dits: jdits@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6158